915 total views, 2 views today
The Ogun State Government has disclosed that more Agricultural opportunities await all categories of farmers across the State in the year 2021, just as its braces to adopt irrigation farming and weather – smart Agricultural practices.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, who made the disclosures while featuring on Radio Nigeria’s Paramount FM’s 94.5 and Rock City 101.9 FM Day Break Show in Abeokuta,noted that in year 2021, farmers would enjoy increased national and international Agricultural support, access to land, inputs, training, land clearing and fertilizers, among others.
Odedina submitted that the Ogun State Economic Transformation Programme (OGSTEP), targeted at empowering over 40,000 farmers, will take off as it has also concluded plans to link farmers with tractors, planting material palliatives and help them reduce cost of production.
“We want to assure our farmers that we have a lot in stock for them in the year 2021. We are one of the role model states in fertilizer management, you cannot see our fertilizers in the open market. The Governor was one of the first governors to access the presidential fertilizer initiative.
“Irrigation must be employed to tackle draught and help our people cultivate at every season. It’s part of our plans and this government will stick to its word.
“We are also leveraging on our status as the first in livestock, poultry, fisheries among others to embrace smart- weather and irrigation farming system to promote all year round Agriculture”, he said.
The Commissioner added that unlike the past where people wait for as long as four years to get land for Agricultural purpose, the New Framework for Land Use for Agriculture signed by the governor, has afforded prospective farmers access to land under one month saying, the state was poised at raising successful farmers.
He said the state will be collaborating with Kebbi State with a view to coming up with a Joint Commision on Rice to meet the increasing demand for the staple food across the country.
He affirmed that the State would be supporting Rice Farmers in the State with Drone Technology to scare away birds, link them with mechanical rice harvesters where they will pay less than a token to access it with other support from the private sector.
He said the state would continue to leverage on its proximity to Lagos as the largest market in Sub- Saharan Africa to create enabling environment for investors, promote employment and create jobs for its people.
The Commissioner who attributed the State’s government success in Agriculture to the various support gotten from the Federal Government, CBN, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), also appreciated farmers for daring to go ahead with farming activities during the lockdown, charging them to leverage on the numerous opportunities to expand the scope of Agriculture.
Callers including Elder Gilbert Sikuade, Olushola Johnson,Paul Oni among others appreciated the Commissioner for changing the phase of Agriculture in the state, charging him to look at other areas for all round Agricultural growth.